Snapshots of the Past

The White House, Washington, D.C. / photographed by L.E. Walker. – Vintage Photo Print

The White House, Washington, D.C. / photographed by L.E. Walker., 1877 — historic photograph
The White House, Washington, D.C. / photographed by L.E. Walker., 1877. Historic photograph from the White House collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Few images capture their era like this historic photograph of The White House, Washington, D.C. / photographed by L.E. Walker.. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

Order it framed and ready to hang, or unframed to match a frame you already love. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

The White House, Washington, D.C. / photographed by L.E. Walker.

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Few buildings were drawn as often as the White House, but this wood engraving stands out because it was made from a photograph by L.E. Walker, which let the magazine show a real view rather than an artist's impression. It appeared in Harper's Weekly in mid-March 1877, just after Rutherford B. Hayes took the oath of office following a disputed election and as the executive mansion passed from the Grant administration to a new one. Notice how the engraver had to turn the photograph's light and shadow into lines cut by hand into a wood block, a craft that made illustrated newspapers possible before halftone printing became common.

Created / published1877
Medium1 print : wood engraving.
GenrePeriodical illustrations 1870-1880.Wood engravings 1870-1880.
NotesIllus. in: Harper's weekly, v. 21, no. 1055 (1877 March 17), p. 205.
SubjectsWhite House (Washington, D.C.)--1870-1880.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan4,096 × 3,297 px · prints to 14 × 11 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-202952

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